Using Bland-Altman plot-based harmonization algorithm to optimize the harmonization for immunoassays.

OBJECTIVES: Harmonization has been recommended by the International Organization for Standard (ISO) to achieve equivalent results across in vitro diagnostic measurement devices (IVD-MDs). We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of Bland-Altman plot-based harmonization algorithm (BA-BHA) created in this study and compare it with weighted Deming regression-based harmonization algorithm (WD-BHA) proposed in ISO 21151:2020. METHODS: Eighty patient sera were used as the harmonization reference material (HRM) to develop IVD-MD-specific harmonization algorithms. Another panel of 40 patient sera was used to validate the effectiveness of harmonization algorithms. We compared regression slopes, intercepts, Bland-Altman plot layouts, percent differences, limits of agreement (LoAs), between-method coefficients of variation (CV) before and after harmonization. RESULTS: After harmonization by WD-BHA, acceptable slopes and intercepts between measured values and HRM targets were observed in weighted Deming regression, but not in Passing-Bablok analysis. Mean differences were -5.5 to 5.0 % and differences at specific levels were -33.9 to 23.9 %. LoAs were -64.6 to 74.6 %. Between-method CV was 22.9 % (±12.9 %). However, after harmonization by BA-BHA, both weighted Deming and Passing-Bablok regressions equations presented harmonized results. Mean differences were -0.3 to 0.2 % and differences at specific levels were -1.1 to 1.6 %. LoAs were -23.3 to 23.2 %. Between-method CV was 8.4 % (±4.0 %). The data points were evenly distributed at both sides of the mean in Bland-Altman plots. CONCLUSIONS: The inequivalence of test results between different methods can be improved but unacceptable analytical differences at specific levels may be hidden in terms of an acceptable slope and intercept on WD-BHA. The new protocol BA-BHA may be a viable alternative to optimize the harmonization for immunoassays.

Advanced Microwave Strategies Facilitate Structural Engineering for Efficient Electrocatalysis.

In the dynamic realm of energy conversion, the demand for efficient electrocatalysis has surged due to the urgent need to seamlessly integrate renewable energy. Traditional electrocatalyst preparation faces challenges like poor controllability, elevated costs, and stringent operational conditions. The introduction of microwave strategies represents a transformative shift, offering rapid response, high-temperature energy, and superior controllability. Notably, non-liquid-phase advanced microwave technology holds promise for introducing novel models and discoveries compared to traditional liquid-phase microwave methods. This review examines the nuanced applications of microwave technology in electrocatalyst structural engineering, emphasizing its pivotal role in the energy paradigm and addressing challenges in conventional methods. The ensuing discussion explores the profound impact of advanced microwave strategies on electrocatalyst structural engineering, highlighting discernible advantages in optimizing performance. Various applications of advanced microwave techniques in electrocatalysis are comprehensively discussed, providing a forward-looking perspective on their untapped potential to propel transformative strides in renewable energy research. It provides a forward-looking perspective, delving into the untapped potential of microwaves to propel transformative strides in renewable energy research.

Starch-ascorbyl palmitate inclusion complex, a type 5 resistant starch, reduced in vitro digestibility and improved in vivo glycemic response in mice.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has become a major public health concern worldwide. Slowly digested or indigestible carbohydrates such as resistant starch (RS) are associated with a low glycemic index (GI) and the decreased risk of developing T2D. Recently, starch inclusion complexes (ICs) have raised attention due to their thermally stable structure and high RS content. In this study, starch-ascorbyl palmitate (AP) ICs were produced using two different methods with hydrothermal treatments performed, and their in vitro digestion kinetics and in vivo glycemic response in C57BL/6J mice were investigated to determine their potential as a new type of RS, i.e., RS5. After treatments of annealing followed by acid hydrolysis (ANN-ACH), IC samples produced by both methods retained V-type crystalline structure. Either in their raw or treated conditions, V6h-AP ICs prepared using the "empty" V-type method exhibited a more favorable hydrolysis pattern as compared to its counterpart produced by the DMSO method in terms of a lower hydrolysis rate and equilibrium concentration (C∞) (p < 0.05). From the in vitro results, the ANN-ACH treated V6h-AP IC exhibited an estimated GI (eGI) value of 54.83, falling within the range of low GI foods and was the lowest among all tested samples (p < 0.05). Consistent with the in vitro digestion kinetics, the in vivo results showed that mice fed with ANN-ACH V6h-AP IC exhibited a modest glycemic response as evidenced by the lowest increase in postprandial blood glucose and AUC blood glucose (p < 0.05). In addition, the in vivo GI of the ANN-ACH V6h-AP IC (39.53) was the lowest among all the sample treatments and was even lower than that of the RS2 comparison (56, p < 0.05), indicating its more pronounced effect in modulating the postprandial glycemic response in mice and great potential as a new RS5.

Pharmacist-Driven Dosing Services and Pharmaceutical Care Increase Probability of Teicoplanin Target Concentration Attainment and Improve Clinical and Economic Outcomes in Non-Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacist-driven (PD) dosing and monitoring services have been shown to improve the clinical and economic outcomes in patients treated with different antibiotics, other than teicoplanin. This study investigates the impact of PD dosing and monitoring services on the clinical and economic outcomes of non-critically ill patients receiving teicoplanin treatment. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted. Patients were divided into the PD group and the non-PD (NPD) group. Primary outcomes included the achievement of target serum concentration, and a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and sepsis or septic shock development during hospitalization or within 30 days of hospital admission. The cost of teicoplanin, overall medication cost, and total cost during hospital stay were also compared. RESULTS: A total of 163 patients from January to December 2019 were included and assessed. Seventy patients were assigned to the PD group and 93 to the NPD group. The PD group had a higher percentage of patients reaching the target trough concentration (54% versus 16%, p < 0.001). Around 26% of the patients in the PD group and 50% of the patients in the NPD group met the composite endpoint during their hospital stay (p = 0.002). The PD group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of sepsis or septic shock, shorter hospital stays, reduced drug costs, and lower total expenses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that pharmacist-driven teicoplanin therapy can improve the clinical and economic outcomes for non-critically ill patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn ; identifier, ChiCTR2000033521.

Zinc and selenium status in coronavirus disease 2019.

We systematically analyzed and attempted to discuss the possibility that deficiencies of zinc or selenium were associated with the incidence and severity of COVID-19. We searched for published and unpublished articles in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane up to 9 February 2023. And we selected healthy individuals, mild/severe, and even deceased COVID-19 patients to analyze their serum data. Data related to 2319 patients from 20 studies were analyzed. In the mild/severe group, zinc deficiency was associated with the degree of severe disease (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.68, I2 = 50.5%) and we got an Egger's test of p = 0.784; but selenium deficiency was not associated with the degree of severe disease (SMD = - 0.03, 95% CI - 0.98-0.93, I2 = 96.7%). In the surviving/death group, zinc deficiency was not associated with mortality of COVID-19 (SMD = 1.66, 95%CI - 1.42-4.47), nor was selenium (SMD = - 0.16, 95%CI - 1.33-1.01). In the risk group, zinc deficiency was positively associated with the prevalence of COVID-19 (SMD = 1.21, 95% CI 0.96-1.46, I2 = 54.3%) and selenium deficiency was also positively associated with the prevalence of it (SMD = 1.16, 95% CI 0.71-1.61, I2 = 58.3%). Currently, serum zinc and selenium deficiencies increase the incidence of COVID-19 and zinc deficiency exacerbates the disease; however, neither zinc nor selenium was associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19. Nevertheless, our conclusions may change when new clinical studies are published.

Structure-digestibility relationship of starch inclusion complex with salicylic acid.

Amylose, the linear component of starch, can complex with small molecules to form single helical inclusion complexes of 6, 7, or 8 glucosyl units per helical turn, known as V6, V7, and V8. In this study, starch-salicylic acid (SA) inclusion complexes with different amounts of residual SA were obtained. Their structural characteristics and digestibility profiles were obtained with complementary techniques and an in vitro digestion assay. Upon complexation with excess SA, V8 type starch inclusion complex was formed. When excess SA crystals were removed, the V8 polymorphic structure could remain, while further removing intra-helical SA converted the V8 conformation to V7. Furthermore, the digestion rate of the resulted V7 was lowered as indicated by increased resistant starch (RS) content, which could be due to its tight helical structure, whereas the two V8 complexes were highly digestible. Such findings could have practical implications for novel food product development and nanoencapsulation technology.

tDCS Anodal Stimulation of the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Improves Creative Performance in Real-World Problem Solving.

Brain regions associated with creativity is a focal point in research related to the field of cognitive neuroscience. Previous studies have paid more attention to the role of activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in creativity tasks, which are mostly abstract conceptual tasks, and less attention to real-world creativity tasks. The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in functions such as visuospatial processing, which may have a positive impact on innovative solutions to real-world problems. In this study, tDCS technology was used to explore the effect of anodal stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on design creativity performance in a real-word problem-solving task related to product design. The experimental task comprised three stages, of which the first two were idea generation stages based on divergent thinking using text and graphics, respectively, whereas the third was the creative evaluation stage based on convergent thinking. Thirty-six design students were recruited to partake in the experiment. They were randomly assigned into anodal stimulation and sham stimulation groups. The results showed that anodal stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex produced a significant positive effect during the creative evaluation stage, promoting the usefulness of ideas (p = 0.009); thus, improving product creativity scores. However, there was no significant impact on the idea generation stage (p > 0.05), which is dominated by divergent thinking. The results suggest that activating the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with tDCS can improve people's performance in creative activities by promoting convergent thinking rather than divergent thinking. It also provides further evidence that the right hemisphere of the brain has an advantage in solving complex problems that require the participation of visuospatial information.

Influence of size and location of buttons on the usability of interface on large touch screens.

This study examined how large touchscreen buttons affect user task completion time, error rate, and subjective satisfaction (ease of pointing and clicking on targets). In this experiment, 31 participants completed button click tasks of square targets placed at 30 (5 × 6) different locations, with seven button sizes (10 mm, 30 mm, 50 mm, 70 mm, 90 mm, 110 mm, and 130 mm). Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that on a 65'' large touch screen (W 1428 × H 803 mm), 70 mm buttons achieved essentially the best performance in completion time, 50 mm in error rates, and 90 mm in subjective satisfaction, respectively. We also compare the differences in efficiency among different button areas and button sizes. The surrounding area and lower area require a bigger button size to achieve the best performance in terms of error rates and subjective satisfaction. The right area requires a bigger optimal button size than the left area considering error rates, while it is the opposite for subjective satisfaction.Practitioner summary: This study investigates how the size and location of buttons on the increasingly popular large touch screen affect user experience. The study reveals that 70, 50, 90 mm size buttons are recommended when speed, accuracy and satisfaction are priorities respectively. The interaction between button size and button area is significantly different. The surrounding area and lower area require a bigger button size to achieve the best performance in terms of error rate and subjective satisfaction. Considering error rates, the right area requires a bigger optimal button size than the left area, while it is opposite for subjective satisfaction. These findings could facilitate the optimal design of usable large touch screens.

Bilingualism and creativity: Benefits from cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility.

Bilingualism has been shown to be associated with creativity, but the mechanisms of this association are not very well understood. One possibility is that the skills that bilinguals use in switching back and forth between languages also promote the cognitive processes associated with creativity. We hypothesized that high-proficient Chinese-English bilinguals would show higher convergent and divergent thinking than low-proficient bilinguals, with the differences being mediated by cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Chinese university students (N = 54) were classified as high-proficient (n = 27) and low-proficient (n = 27) bilinguals based on their performance on the National English Test for College Students. As expected, group comparisons showed that the high-proficient group had higher scores on the Remote Associates Test (RAT, convergent thinking) and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT, divergent thinking). Also as expected, the association between bilingualism and convergent thinking was mediated by scores on a Stroop task (cognitive inhibition), and the association between bilingualism and divergent thinking was mediated by scores on a More-odd shifting task (cognitive flexibility). These findings suggest that bilingual learning can promote the development of different components of creativity through stronger cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility. The results provide empirical evidence for the relationship and mechanism between bilingual learning and creativity.

Hyper-CVAD-Based Stem Cell Microtransplant as Post-Remission Therapy in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Post-remission strategies for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are limited to the multiagent chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT), and cellular therapies are seldom involved. Although chemotherapy combined with mismatched granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cell infusion (microtransplant, MST) has been studied in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, its efficacy in ALL is still undetermined. We enrolled 48 patients receiving hyper-CVAD-based MST between July 1, 2009, and January 31, 2018. No acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in patients receiving MST. Four-year overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were 62% and 35%, respectively, and the 4-year relapse rate was 65%. No patient experienced non-relapse mortality. Subgroup analysis showed that OS rates were comparable between groups with different age, risk stratification, minimal residual disease status prior to MST and immunophenotype. Adult patients tended to achieve better 4-year LFS (62% vs. 26%, P = .058) and lower hematologic relapse rate (38% vs. 74%, P = .058) compared with adolescent and young adult patients. Donor chimerism/microchimerism was detectable ranging from 0.002% to 42.78% in 78% (42/54) available samples within 14 days after each infusion and at 3 months or one year after the last cell infusion. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that white blood cells <30 × 109/L at diagnosis and sufficient hyper-CVAD cycles were prognostic factors for better 4-year OS and LFS, while the B-cell phenotype and higher number of infused CD34+ cells in the first cycle were predictors for favorable 4-year LFS. The hyper-CVAD-based MST was a feasible strategy for treating ALL patients with mild toxicity.

Pearson's Principle-Inspired Robust 2D Amorphous Ni-Fe-Co Ternary Hydroxides on Carbon Textile for High-Performance Electrocatalytic Water Splitting.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) is widely used in electrocatalytic water splitting due to its good structural tunability, high intrinsic activity, and mild synthesis conditions, especially for flexible fiber-based catalysts. However, the poor stability of the interface between LDH and flexible carbon textile prepared by hydrothermal and electrodeposition methods greatly affects its active area and cyclic stability during deformation. Here, we report a salt-template-assisted method for the growth of two-dimensional (2D) amorphous ternary LDH based on dip-rolling technology. The robust and high-dimensional structure constructed by salt-template and fiber could achieve a carbon textile-based water splitting catalyst with high loading, strong catalytic activity, and good stability. The prepared 2D NiFeCo-LDH/CF electrode showed overpotentials of 220 mV and 151 mV in oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions, respectively, and simultaneously had no significant performance decrease after 100 consecutive bendings. This work provides a new strategy for efficiently designing robust, high-performance LDH on flexible fibers, which may have great potential in commercial applications.

Encapsulation and release kinetics of ethylene into "pre-formed" V-type starch and granular cold-water-soluble starch.

Ethylene gas was loaded into "pre-formed" V-type starch (V6, V7 and V8) by molecular encapsulation, and granular cold-water-soluble starch (GCWSS) was chosen as a control. The formation, structural characteristics and morphological properties of inclusion complexes (ICs) were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The V6a-type starch represented the most effective structure in encapsulating ethylene gas among different "pre-formed" V-type starches. The Avrami equation was used to describe the release kinetic properties of ethylene gas from ICs under various conditions of temperatures and relative humidities (RHs). The release of ethylene from ICs conformed to diffusion-limited release mechanisms (temperature) and first-order kinetics (RH). This could be caused by the differences in starch structure and association mechanisms between ethylene and starch single helices. Accelerated ripening experiments showed that ethylene-starch ICs could ripen bananas within 5 days, suggesting that this molecular encapsulation technology can provide precise control and targeted application of ethylene gas in the ripening of vegetables and fruits.

EBV miRNAs BART11 and BART17-3p promote immune escape through the enhancer-mediated transcription of PD-L1.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is reportedly the first identified human tumor virus, and is closely related to the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric carcinoma (GC), and several lymphomas. PD-L1 expression is elevated in EBV-positive NPC and GC tissues; however, the specific mechanisms underlying the EBV-dependent promotion of PD-L1 expression to induce immune escape warrant clarification. EBV encodes 44 mature miRNAs. In this study, we find that EBV-miR-BART11 and EBV-miR-BART17-3p upregulate the expression of PD-L1 in EBV-associated NPC and GC. Furthermore, EBV-miR-BART11 targets FOXP1, EBV-miR-BART17-3p targets PBRM1, and FOXP1 and PBRM1 bind to the enhancer region of PD-L1 to inhibit its expression. Therefore, EBV-miR-BART11 and EBV-miR-BART17-3p inhibit FOXP1 and PBRM1, respectively, and enhance the transcription of PD-L1 (CD274, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/29126 ), resulting in the promotion of tumor immune escape, which provides insights into potential targets for EBV-related tumor immunotherapy.

Inhibitory Effect of Ascorbic Acid on in vitro Enzymatic Digestion of Raw and Cooked Starches.

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, was previously reported to inhibit the activity of pancreatic α-amylase, the primary digestive enzyme for starch. A major implication of such inhibition is a slowed rate of starch digestion into glucose, which thereby reduces postprandial hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid at various concentrations on the in vitro digestion of high amylose maize starch (HAMS) and potato starch (PS) in both raw and cooked conditions. Resistant starch (RS) content, defined as the starch that remained after 4 h of simulated in vitro enzymatic digestion, was measured for the starch samples. Upon the addition of ascorbic acid, the RS contents increased in both raw and cooked starches. Cooking significantly reduced the RS contents as compared to raw starches, and less increase in RS was observed with the addition of ascorbic acid. The inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid on the digestion of raw starches showed a dose-dependent trend until it reached the maximum extent of inhibition. At the concentrations of 12.5 and 18.75 mg/mL, ascorbic acid exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on the in vitro starch digestion in raw and cooked conditions, respectively. Overall, our results strongly indicate that ascorbic acid may function as a glycemic modulatory agent beyond other important functions, and its effects persist upon cooking with certain concentrations applied.

Starch inclusion complex for the encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive guest compounds.

The linear component of starch, especially amylose, is capable of forming inclusion complex (IC) with various small molecules. It could significantly modify the structure and properties of starch, and it could bring beneficial effects when bioactive compounds can be encapsulated. This review discusses the formation and characterization of the starch-guest IC and focuses on the recent developments in the use of starch ICs for the encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive guest compounds. A great number of guest compounds, such as lipids, aroma compounds, pharmaceuticals, and phytochemicals, were studied for their ability to be complexed with starch and/or amylose and some of the formed ICs were evaluated for the chemical stability improvement and the guest release regulation. Starch-guest ICs has a great potential to be a delivery system, as most existing studies demonstrated the enhancement on guest retention and the possibility of controlled release.

Impact of dietary intake of resistant starch on obesity and associated metabolic profiles in human: a systematic review of the literature.

As a global public health issue with an increasing prevalence, obesity is related to several metabolic disorders, but is largely preventable. Resistant starch (RS), the indigestible portion of starch, has been studied for its potential effects on reducing obesity. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of dietary intake of RS on obesity development and related metabolic profiles in human, including body weight and composition, energy intake and satiety, lipid profiles, blood glucose and insulin, and other blood biomarkers. Eleven peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2000 and 2019 were identified after screening using CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and CINAHL Plus. Based on the results, RS intake had no direct effect on body weight and body composition. Evidence for its effect on reducing energy intake and increasing satiety, as well as improving lipid profiles was inconsistent. Beneficial effects of RS intake on several blood biomarkers were supported, indicating its regulatory roles in blood glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and gut hormone concentrations. Specifically, five out of the eight articles measuring blood glucose reported a decrease in either fasting or postprandial glucose levels; two out of the three articles measuring insulin sensitivity indicated a significant improvement after RS supplementation; studies measuring gut hormone concentrations including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and peptide YY (PYY) also showed significant improvements after RS interventions. In conclusion, the effect of dietary intake of RS on obesity and its related metabolic complications was not conclusive. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer duration is warranted.

Morphological and physicochemical characterization of starches isolated from chestnuts cultivated in different regions of China.

This study was to compare the characteristics of 21 starches isolated from chestnuts produced in different regions in China, also to investigate their potential food applications. Starches were isolated from chestnuts under the Castanea mollisima Blume variety with sub-varieties of Banli, Youli, and Maoli. Several properties of the starch samples were examined, including the moisture content, amylose content, morphological characteristics, color values, light transmittance, syneresis, swelling power, water solubility index, pasting properties, FTIR characteristics, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, and thermal properties. The results showed that starches isolated from Youli presented higher resistance to shear and swelling during heating, indicating more suitability for high-heat cooking. The FTIR spectra confirmed the polysaccharide nature of all the chestnut starches. The XRD patterns showed most chestnut starches were in Cb-type, while only five were in Ca-type. Overall, this comparative study would be relevant for the further exploration of the potential utilization of chestnut starch in both food and non-food industries.

Neural Responses to Central and Peripheral Objects in the Lateral Occipital Cortex.

Human object recognition and classification depend on the retinal location where the object is presented and decrease as eccentricity increases. The lateral occipital complex (LOC) is thought to be preferentially involved in the processing of objects, and its neural responses exhibit category biases to objects presented in the central visual field. However, the nature of LOC neural responses to central and peripheral objects remains largely unclear. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a wide-view presentation system to investigate neural responses to four categories of objects (faces, houses, animals, and cars) in the primary visual cortex (V1) and the lateral visual cortex, including the LOC and the retinotopic areas LO-1 and LO-2. In these regions, the neural responses to objects decreased as the distance between the location of presentation and center fixation increased, which is consistent with the diminished perceptual ability that was found for peripherally presented images. The LOC and LO-2 exhibited significantly positive neural responses to all eccentricities (0-55°), but LO-1 exhibited significantly positive responses only to central eccentricities (0-22°). By measuring the ratio relative to V1 (RRV1), we further demonstrated that eccentricity, category and the interaction between them significantly affected neural processing in these regions. LOC, LO-1, and LO-2 exhibited larger RRV1s when stimuli were presented at an eccentricity of 0° compared to when they were presented at the greater eccentricities. In LOC and LO-2, the RRV1s for images of faces, animals and cars showed an increasing trend when the images were presented at eccentricities of 11 to 33°. However, the RRV1s for houses showed a decreasing trend in LO-1 and no difference in the LOC and LO-2. We hypothesize, that when houses and the images in the other categories were presented in the peripheral visual field, they were processed via different strategies in the lateral visual cortex.